Fbanz waldeckee



' (No'ModeL) F. ,WA LDEGKER. Zither Table.

No. 240,057. Patehted April 12,188I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ WALDEGKER, OF TASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ZlTHER-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,057, dated April 12, 1881.

Application filed January 21, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ WALDEOKER, a German subject, now a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Zither- Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description oftheinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my combined portable folding zither table and case opened and ready to be used as a table for supporting the instrument while being played upon. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same closed and ready for transportation by hand as a case for the instrument.

The same letter indicates the same part in both the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar construction of a portable case for a Zither, which, when opened and unfolded, will form a convenient table upon which to support the instrument and its music when in use, and can be quickly and conveniently folded and closed, with the instrument and music within it, so as to be safely kept and easily transported, all as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, which clearly represent my invention, A marks the body of the case; B, its upper lid or cover, hinged to it at a a, and supported in upright position by the folding brace 1). Near its lower margin is placed a folding ledge,f, for supporting a book or sheets of music. It is provided with eyes (1 d, which receive hooks c 0, attached to the body A of the case. These assist the lock in holding the cover B in place when the case is closed.

(No model.)

C is the lower lid, hinged, hooked, and locked in the same way as lid B.

D is a sounding-board, hinged to one end of 5 the case so as to lie flush with its upper edge.

E is the bottom board, provided with the opening it, to allow the free entrance of air below the sounding-board while the instrument is played.

g is a compartment for holding the tuningkey, thumbring, and extra strings.

F F mark the legs of the table, which are hinged to the inner side of the body A, at either end, so as to fold inward and lie flat when folded within the lower part of the body A of the case.

Gross-pieces H H give strength to the structure, and a removable longitudinal slat, G, is inserted in dovetails in these cross-pieces when the table is set up, and removed before folding it. Additional firmnessis secured by book ing the legs to eyes in the lower lid, 0, as shown in Fig. 1.

The body A is provided with looks to secure the lids, and a handle, 0, by which, when closed, the case and its contents can be conveniently carried.

The operation is too obvious to require explanation.

I claim A combined portable folding zither table and case, consisting of the body A, lids B O, sounding-board D, bottom board, E, and folding legs F F, all constructed and combined to operate as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANZ VVALDEOKER. 

